Category Archives: Events

March volunteer activity

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Sunday 12th March 2017 – Le Don Hodges, St John – 10:30-13.00

From Jersey Conservation Volunteers

The details

Join National Trust Rangers Neil and Will at Le Don Hodges on the north coast (immediately inland from the chough aviary) to help undertake young hedgerow management. Since these agricultural fields were acquired by the Trust in 2012, thousands of bareroot whips of native hedgerow tree species have been planted as part of a programme of hedgerow restoration. This forms part of a wider wildlife farming initiative being implemented at the site that also includes the planting of conservation cover crops for birds and pollinating insects.

Please contact Julia at j.meldrum@gov.je or Jon at jonparkes@nationaltrust.je or phone Julia on 441600 or Jon on 483193 before you go just case anything changes.

The site

We will meet in the car park at Sorel point, La Rue de Sorel, (west of Ronez Quarry), St John at 10:20 for a 10:30 start. Jersey phone directory Map 3, 2R. Google maps here

Parking  There is parking at the meeting point.

The task In order to give the young hedgerow trees the best start possible we now need to undertake some management. This task will involve clearing the vegetation and mulching around the base of the trees, cutting back encroaching bramble, replacing broken/missing tree guards and canes, pruning the trees to encourage dense growth, and planting up any gaps where the planted whips have not survived. We made a fantastic start to this work during the November task but there is still a large number of trees that need attention and plenty of gaps to plug.

Tools needed Tools will be provided but if you have your own gloves, sickle, secateurs, and/or loppers it would be helpful if you could bring them along.

Clothing needed. Bring gardening gloves (though we can supply a pair if you don’t have them), wellies or sturdy boots, (it could well be muddy and the vegetation may be wet it and it may be rough underfoot) and common sense clothes to cope with the elements, we go ahead whatever the weather!

Children All are welcome, young or old. Children under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian during the task.

Work will finish by 12:30 when we will turn our attention to devouring Kim’s delicious cakes.

Hope to see you there!

Wild About Jersey 11-12 February 2107

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Grass snake. Photo by Kristian BellEco active logoInterested in Jersey’s wildlife and how you can make a difference? Join us at Wild About Jersey

Come along to Acorn Enterprises, Trinity on 11th & 12th February 2017

This two day celebration of Jersey’s wildlife is open to all with free entry. There will be stalls, displays, activities, talks and training workshops given by a range of local and national speakers.

Saturday 11th February

Talks

A series of talks offered to all who are interested, which will showcase environmental projects happening in Jersey that could do with a helping hand. No need to book, take your pick!

10:00 Making the Difference: The Seasearch Observer Project. Kevin McIlwee, Jersey Seasearch.

10:30 It’s all about scale(s): An uncertain future for Jersey’s grass snakes. Rob Ward, University of Kent.

11:00 The National Plant Monitoring Scheme: Developing a new volunteer-based plant monitoring scheme. Dr Oliver Pescott, National Biological Records Centre.

11:30 The Coastline Campaign: Making a difference. Charles Alluto and Jon Parkes, National Trust for Jersey.

12:00 Earthworms of the UK: A Quest to know more. Emma Sherlock, Earthworm Society of Britain, Natural History Museum, London

12:30 – 13:00 Earthworm Watch Lunchtime Survey Join members of the Earthworm Society of Britain in our Earthworm Watch survey. This involves digging for earthworms, checking which of the three groups they belong to (and what they do to the soil) and checking the soil type where they were found. It might involve slightly muddy hands (but gloves will be provided!)

Training workshops (Choose One) 13:30 – 15:30

Training offered to all, providing an opportunity for everyone to get involved in scientific research.

National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS) – Rob Ward & Nina Cornish

Training in amphibian and reptile identification, habitat assessment, survey methods, recording, health & safety. Including advanced skills for grass snake surveying, highlighting the issues in detecting grass snakes in Jersey and how to improve your chances of finding them. We will provide guidance and training on what data should be collected.

National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) – Oliver Pescott & Anne Haden

This workshop will begin with an overview of the NPMS scheme, and how to identify areas to survey. This will be followed by a field trip, meeting at Les Landes primary school car park. The field survey will explore the areas chosen in the classroom. If time allows, some identification of plants will also be demonstrated.

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Sunday 12th February

Talks

No need to book, take your pick!

10:00 Corks, Pellets & Rings. Bob Tompkins, Jersey Barn Owl Conservation.

10:30 Wildlife in urban and suburban habitats. Attitudes, challenges and opportunities. Sue Clarke, Wessex Environmental Consultants.

11:00 10 Years of Toadwatch. Nina Cornish, SoJ Natural Environment Team

11:30 Winter is coming…and it’ll be fine: A lifeline for farmland birds. Cristina Sellares, Birds On The Edge.

12:00 Lighting the Spark: Connecting children to nature to inspire environmental stewardship. Stephen Le Quesne, Wild Jersey.

Training workshops (Choose One) 13:30 – 15:30

Jersey Conservation Volunteers – Julia Meldrum and Piers Sangan

Habitat management at Grouville Marsh. Willow management and dead hedging along the stream edge. Bring hand saws, loppers, secateurs, gloves (some provided)… and wellies!! Followed by Kim’s Kakes and a cuppa! Meet at Longbeach car park, Grouville.

Jersey Butterfly Monitoring Scheme – Sue Clarke and Denise McGowan

Learn the basic techniques in identification and monitoring of Jersey’s butterflies and what this citizen science program has taught us. Training in identifying common species provided

Tea, coffee and food available to purchase from Acorn Café all day

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Jersey’s Great Garden Birdwatch this weekend – 4th and 5th February 2017

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Male blackbird. Photo by Mick DrydenAnother year gone and once again its time to count the birds in our gardens during the Action for Wildlife, Birds On The Edge and Jersey Evening Post Great Garden Birdwatch. Few things show us more how the environment around us, our own living-space, is faring than looking at the birds that have chosen to live alongside us. If all is well there it shows that our environment is healthy while, conversely, obvious declines in bird numbers suggest that all is not well at home.

Action for Wildlife

 

 

 

 

JEP logo

Blackbird. Garden Bird Watch 2002-2016Analysis of sightings from the previous 15 years of this survey makes it very obvious that not all our favourite garden birds are faring so well and that populations are changing dramatically. But, how exactly do we know. Well, through as many people as possible counting them. And not just birdwatchers but everyone who likes birds because, let’s face it, everyone does like birds. And they are often easy to count because they can Greenfinch. Garden Bird Watch 2002-2016be pretty obvious especially when they come into our gardens to the food we put out for them. Data shown by the survey are very important in highlighting what is happening in our wider environment and, while not covering the whole countryside, results do bring home to everyone wider concerns. Just think, if the birds are doing badly in our gardens where we feed and protect them, what is happening out there in the rest of the world.

Greenfinch (2). Photo by Regis Perdriat

House sparrow. Garden Bird Watch 2002-2016So, please, over this weekend follow the guidelines printed below or in today’s JEP and tell us what birds you see. We can add up all the counts (we have 15 years’ worth already) and easily pick up changes that are happening right in front of us. Will there be even fewer greenfinches than last year and will wood pigeons have finally taken over our bird tables?  We call this ‘citizen science’ so consider yourself all citizen scientists!

And don’t forget. For this survey, squirrels can consider themselves birds so please count them too if you see any.

How to enter the survey

Counters should note the highest number of each species of bird that are seen together at one time during that period – not the total number which enter your garden over the period of the watch.

Survey forms and a handy identification guide will be published in the JEP on Thursday the 2nd and all data received will be passed on to La Société Jersiaise to add to their records and included in Birds On The Edge bird monitoring analyses.

Completed forms can be posted in or delivered to the JEP. You can also send in your records online through this website here from the weekend.

Download the record form here

House sparrow (2). Photo by Mick Dryden

 

January volunteer activity

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ne-im-victoria-tower-01-03-15Sunday 8th January 2017 – Victoria Tower, St Martin – 10:30-12.30

Join the National Trust Rangers at Victoria Tower on Sunday 8th January 2017 for the first Jersey Conservation Volunteers task of the year.

From Jersey Conservation Volunteers

The details

One of our long-term objectives for this site is to enhance the abundance and diversity of native wildflowers growing amongst the grassland, thereby increasing the provision of pollen and nectar for pollinating insects. With this in mind we would like you to help us establish some small trial areas where native wildflower seeds will be sown. The native species to be sown have been carefully selected based on their attractiveness to pollinators as well as the results of soil tests undertaken earlier in the year. Before the task begins we will go through the soil test results, provide a brief overview of the selection criteria for the native wildflower species being sown, and explain what we need to do to maximise the likelihood that the sown species will become established.

In addition to all the fun with flowers we will also be undertaking scrub management on the slope below the tower and, depending on time and numbers, removing some young self-seeded sycamores.

Please contact Julia at j.meldrum@gov.je or Jon at jonparkes@nationaltrust.je or phone Julia on 441600 or Jon on 483193 before you go just case anything changes.

The site

We will meet in the car park at the end of Le Mont Mallet at 10:20 for a 10:30 start. Please check the weather forecast and wear suitable clothing.

Jersey phone directory Map 11, MM15. Google maps here

Parking  There is parking at the meeting point.

The task Planting wildflower seeds and shrub management.

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Tools needed Tools will be provided but if you have a pair of gardening gloves, a spade and/or cutting tools (e.g. pruning saw, loppers, secateurs) it would be helpful if you could bring them along with you.

Clothing needed. Bring gardening gloves (though we can supply a pair if you don’t have them), wellies or sturdy boots (it could well be muddy and the vegetation may be wet it and it may be rough underfoot) and common sense clothes to cope with the elements, we go ahead whatever the weather!

Children All are welcome, young or old. Children under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian during the task.

Work will finish by 12:30 when we will enjoy the great privilege of sampling Kim’s latest batch of delicious cakes, washed down with a nice cup of tea or coffee.

Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

December volunteer activity

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photo-by-department-of-the-environmentSunday 11th December 2016 – St Peter – 10:30-13.00

Why not take a break from the Christmas shopping this Sunday and join us to learn a new skill (or hone an existing one) and plant some trees!

From Jersey Conservation Volunteers

The details

We will be getting together again with Conrad Evans and the team from Jersey Trees for Life to provide a Christmas present for Jersey’s wildlife!  We will add to the organisation’s hedgerow campaign by planting native trees and shrubs around field boundaries to provide habitat corridors for the wildlife of St Peter.

Please contact Julia at j.meldrum@gov.je or Jon at jonparkes@nationaltrust.je or phone Julia on 441600 or Jon on 483193 before you go just case anything changes.

The site

Meet at the Jersey Wanderers car park off La Rue des Sauvalleries, St Peter (south of Jersey Rugby Club). Parking is by kind permission of Jersey Wanderers.

Jersey phone directory map 7, M14. Google maps here

Parking  There is parking at the meeting point.

The task Planting trees and shrubs.

Tools needed As always, we can supply some tools, but please bring your own if you have them. We are very limited on the number of spades we have available so bring yours along if you have one (please note that trowels, shovels, and garden forks are not suitable for this task).

Clothing needed Bring gardening gloves (though we can supply a pair if you don’t have them), wellies or sturdy boots, (it could well be muddy and the vegetation may be wet it and it may be rough underfoot) and common sense clothes to cope with the elements, we go ahead whatever the weather!

Children All are welcome, young or old. Children under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian during the task.

Work will be finished by 13.00. And, our very own Christmas angel Kim will supply hot drinks and her legendary homemade cakes at the end of the task.

Hope to see you there!

November volunteer activity

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hedgerow-management-photo-courtesy-of-national-trust-for-jersey

Sunday 6th November 2016 – Le Don Hodges, St John – 10:30-13.00

Please join us on the north coast on Sunday 6th November to help undertake young hedgerow management. Please note: This task takes place a week earlier than normal to avoid clashing with Remembrance Sunday.

From Jersey Conservation Volunteers

The details

Agricultural fields at Le Don Hodges on the north coast (immediately inland from the chough aviary) were acquired by the National Trust for Jersey in 2012. Since then, thousands of bare root whips of native hedgerow tree species have been planted as part of a programme of hedgerow restoration. This forms part of a wider wildlife farming initiative being implemented at the site that also includes the planting of conservation cover crops for birds and pollinating insects through BOTE.

In order to give the young hedgerow trees the best start possible we now need to undertake some management. This month’s task will involve clearing the vegetation and mulching around the base of the trees, cutting back encroaching bramble, replacing broken/missing tree guards and canes, pruning the trees to encourage dense growth, and planting up any gaps where the planted whips have not survived.

Please contact Julia at j.meldrum@gov.je or Jon at jonparkes@nationaltrust.je or phone Julia on 441600 or Jon on 483193 before you go just case anything changes.

The site

Meet in the car park at Sorel, La Rue de Sorel, St John, west of Ronez Quarry. Meet at 10.20 for a 10.30 start.

Jersey Phone Directory Map 3, R2. Google maps here

From there we will walk westward to the site.

Parking  There is parking at the meeting point.

The task Hedgerow management.

Tools needed As always, we can supply some tools, but please bring your own if you have them. Cutting tools such sickle, secateurs and/or loppers would be very useful if you have them.

Clothing needed . Good thick gloves (though we can supply a pair if you don’t have them), wellies or sturdy boots, (it shouldn’t be muddy but the vegetation may well be wet it and it may be rough underfoot) and common sense clothes to cope with the elements, we go ahead whatever the weather!

Children All are welcome, young or old. Children under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian during the task.

Work will be finished by 12.30. And, some would say most importantly, Kim the Kake will supply us with hot drinks and her yummy homemade cakes.

 

 

Birds On The Edge increases its presence

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birds-on-the-edge-flyer_page_1Earlier this year Birds On the Edge were invited to several very important public events in Jersey including the launch of the Jersey National Park. As a project of multiple partners it was rather unfortunate that we did not have any publicity material or displays of our own that we could use in our own right to help reach out to the very people who would most appreciate learning about the project. We sought, however, to change that and with the kind assistance of Christine Holmes and Rich Howell at Durrell have started to make our presence in Jersey better felt. We are indebted too to Romano da Costa and the BOTE team for allowing us to use these beautiful photographs.

First we produced three beautiful pop-up banners displaying the three key elements of the project: the farmland scheme, conservation grazing and the return of the chough. Each of these banners, standing at over six feet tall, will brighten up any function!

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To accompany the banners we created a full colour A5 flyer (top of page) that we can conveniently leave where people will pick them up and show them to their friends. In fact, please feel free to download one here, print as many as you like and spread the message!

Finally, and very importantly, as a thank you to our most important friends and partners – the farmers who are working hard with us to help the Island’s hard-pressed birds – we have produced a unique certificate of thanks. These beautiful documents convey our sincere appreciation to their hard work and they can be displayed on the wall as our permanent tribute for their efforts. They will also be useful during the farms’ environmental audits and on applications to funding bodies such as the Countryside Enhancement Scheme. These you can’t just download, you’ll have to join forces with us!

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October volunteer activity

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gerard-le-claire-woods-st-martin-photo-by-doeSunday 9th October 2016 – Gerard Le Claire woods, St Martin  – 10:30-13.00

From Jersey Conservation Volunteers https://www.facebook.com/Jersey-Conservation-Volunteers-309170622555799/?fref=ts

They’re back! It’s time for the first activity of the autumn/winter.

The details

The first task of the season will be to revisit to the young woodland planted in memory of Gerard Le Claire, former Director of the States of Jersey’s Environmental Services Unit, who was tragically killed in 2001 whilst working for the United Nations.

We last visited 2½ years ago to remove old tree shelters and do some woodland management, we now need to go back to do some more bracken management, gorse coppicing and tree pruning. There will also be some small scale felling required in order to ensure that the best trees are not crowded out and can develop fully.

Time We will set off at 10.30 promptly to allow time to walk to the site so please arrive a little earlier. We will be finished by 13.00.

Please contact Julia at j.meldrum@gov.je or Jon at jonparkes@nationaltrust.je or phone Julia on 441600 or Jon on 483193 before you go just case anything changes.

The site Les Crete Quarry car park, St Martin. Head north along the coast road from Anne Port and park in the quarry on the left before you get as far as Archirondel (opposite the picnic area).

Jersey phone directory map 11, LL13. Google maps here

From there it is a 10 minute walk up a very steep hill to the work site. There is very limited field parking onsite for a few cars, please let us know if you need access to this.

Parking There is very limited field parking onsite for a few cars, please let Julia know if you need access to this.

The task Bracken management, gorse coppicing and tree pruning.

Tools needed As always, we can supply some tools, but please bring your own if you have them. Cutting tools such as secateurs and pruning saws will be particularly useful.

Clothing needed Good thick gloves (though we can supply a pair if you don’t have them), wellies or sturdy boots, (it shouldn’t be muddy but the vegetation may well be wet it and it may be rough underfoot) and common sense clothes to cope with the element, we go ahead whatever the weather!

Children All are welcome, young or old. Children under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian during the task.

Finally, and some would say most importantly, Kim the Kake will supply us with hot drinks and her yummy homemade cakes.

Student placements on chough reintroduction project in Jersey

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An exciting opportunity is available for a student placement at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, based in Jersey, working on the red-billed chough reintroduction project. This project, which began in 2013, is one of many within the Birds On The Edge project run in collaboration with the National Trust for Jersey and States of Jersey Department of the Environment.

Two placements are available, starting on 1st September 2016.  Durrell houses a captive collection of choughs at the Wildlife Park, while the reintroduction project is based at an off-site aviary near Sorel Point. Juvenile choughs bred in captivity are being released to the north coast of Jersey. All birds are intensively monitored and managed post-release. The student placement will assist the Field Manager in carrying out these activities. Students will spend six months with the project from September to March or March to September, with the remaining six months spent working with Durrell’s Bird Department.

Choughs have been absent from the Channel Islands for nearly a century and with the UK population in serious decline this is an exciting opportunity to help restore an enigmatic species.  You can read about the placement programme here and if you would like to apply, please contact eluned.price@durrell.org for further information and an application form.  The closing date is 11th July 2016.

Range: The Sunda wrinkled hornbill is found in southeast Asia, where it is native to the Sundaic lowlands of Thailand, Brunei, Sumatra, Indonesia and Malaysia (6). It is regionally extinct from Singapore, where it was last seen in 1941 Conservation status: Near threatened

 

Latest bat news in Jersey

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BLE 18.2.16 v2iBats surveyors needed

The Department of the Environment team are looking for two individuals to take leading roles in the Jersey iBats monitoring programme this summer. They are in Year 6 of an ongoing programme designed to monitor the diversity and abundance of Jersey’s bats. Further detail of the iBats programme can be found here

iBats is a car-based monitoring project that records bats on a series of 11 car-driven transects in July, repeated again in August. Transects are driven at a constant 15mph for up to 80 minutes after sunset on a predefined route and require patience and a strict adherence to the survey protocol. The monitoring needs both a driver and a navigator and uses mobile phone navigation technology and bat detectors connected to a sound recorder. Bat calls are audible live in the car as transect is driven. Monitoring requires transects be driven in good weather conditions only.

iBats Jersey transect routes. Photo from Department of the Environment

Brown long-eared bat. Photo by Miranda Collett_4When: Five or six evenings per volunteer in July and five or six evenings per volunteer in August. Transects start 30mins after sunset, require an hour and 20 mins driving which is followed by uploading GPS and bat call data. Survey event may take three hrs from start to finish.

Volunteers must have a current driving licence, a Windows computer and broadband access, good technological competence and spare time in the evenings. The total time commitment for this entire study is 22 evenings throughout the summer survey period. Each evening takes between 2-3 hours from collecting the assistant, driving the transect and managing the data. This work offers a unique and unusual insight into Jersey wildlife. Full training and support will be given. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact David Tipping on telephone 441625 or email d.tipping@gov.je

Channel Islands Bat Conference 2016, Frances Le Sueur Centre, St Ouen, Jersey

The Jersey Bat Group cordially invites you to Jersey for the 2nd Channel Islands Bat Conference to be held on the 29th and 30th October 2016 at the Frances Le Sueur Centre, St Ouen, Jersey.

The general aim of the Channel Islands Bat Conference is to give Government bodies, NGOs, environmental managers and relevant individuals the opportunity to discuss the status of bats within the islands and wider landscape. The CI Bat Conference is relevant to ecological, conservation, environmental management bodies (government/NGO) and individuals from the Channel Islands and other regions, such as the Isle of Man and UK.

The 2016 CI Bat Conference comprises of three objectives, for delegates to:

  • Present a range of bat-related topics relevant to their organisation and island
  • Discuss current or future island projects which effectively link ecological research with environmental management or conservation
  • Discuss topics from the wider world of bat work.

Delegates are encouraged to present on research related to the objectives via talk or poster formats. Talks will normally be 20 minutes long, with five minutes for questions unless longer time is requested by presenters. Presenters are requested to submit a title and abstract (maximum of 500 words) to the JBG by 1st October.

If you would like to attend the Channel Islands Bat Conference 2016 please visit the Jersey Bat group website and fill out the application form here or contact Ani Binet on enquiries@jerseybatgroup.org to discuss and submit your presentation ideas.

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